Condenser winding machine



Sept. 9, 1941. A. BABILLIS CONDENSER WINDING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 16, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 S p 1941- A. BABILLIS I 2,255,498

CONDENSER WINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figih Inventor: Alexandev Bab]! 11s,

H is Attorney Patented Sept. 9, 1941 a 2,255.49: connanssa'wmnmo monma Alexander Babillis, Pittsfleld, Masa, asalznor to General Electric Company, a corporation or New York Application November is, 1939. Serial No. 304,781

Claims. (01. 242-56) The present invention relates to machines for automatically winding electrical condensers 01 the coil type.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement in machines of this type in which the successive operations may be carried out at high speed, and for a consideration of what I believe novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following description and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticview of a condenser winding machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the control mechanism; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the control mechanism; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the control mechanism; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the plate carrying adjustable members for controlling the operation of the machine, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the ratchet drive for the foil and dielectric cutters.

Referring to the drawings, the condenser is wound-on a split mandrel I mounted on a shaft 2 driven by an electric motor 3 by means of a belt 4 running over a pulley 5 fixed to the motor shaft and a pulley 6 fixed to the mandrel shaft. Power is supplied to the motor through line conductors 'l and 8, the line conductor 1 being connected to the motor through a conductor 9 and the line conductor 8 .being connected to the motor through conductor l0, normally open contacts II of a solenoid Ila, conductors l2 and I3, resistances l4 and I5, and conductor It. The resistance I4 is normally short-rcircuited through the normally closed contacts I! of a solenoid la, the contacts being respectively connected by a conductor Is to the junction of the conductors l2 and I3 and by a conductor 20 to the junction of the resistances l4 and I5. When the resistance I4 is short-circuited, the motor runs at full speed. When the resistance ll is open-circuited by the energizing of the solenoid It to. open the contacts II, the additional resistance inserted in the motor supply circuit causes the motor to runat a slower speed. i

The motor is started by a manually operated switch 2l connected in the circuit of the solenoid Ila. The solenoid is energized from a. low voltage supply comprising conductors 22 and 23. One side of the switch 2| is connected by a conductor 24 to the conductor 22. The other side of the switch is connected to the solenoid Ila and through the conductor 25 to the conductor 23. Upon closing the switch 2| the solecontacts II to energize the motor and also closing contacts 26 to energize a holding circuit for the solenoid Ila extending from the conductor 22, through the conductor, through normally closed contacts 21 of a solenoid 28, through contacts 26 to the solenoid Ila, and from the solenoid through conductor 25 to the supply conductor 23. As soon as the solenoid Ila has been operated the switch 2| may be opened and the solenoid will be held In its closed position due to the establishment of the holding circuit described above.- The motor is stopped by energizing the solenoid 28, opening the contacts 21, and breaking the holding circuit for the solenoid Ila. As soon as this happens the solenoid lla returns to the position illustrated in which the contacts II and 26 are open.

The condenser comprises layers of foil with interposed layers of paper. The paper is fed to the mandrel from rolls 29 rotatably carried on spindles 30. The paper passes to the mandrel over guides 3| and between paper feed rolls 32 and 32a. The foil is fed to the mandrel from rolls 33 rotatably carried on spindles 34. The foil passes to the mandrel between foil feed rolls 25 and 35a and also between the paper feed rolls 32 and 32a. Stationary guides 35 are arranged below the feed rolls 32. The feed rolls 32 and 82a and 85 and 350. are normally separated and, in such position, are ineffective to feed the paper or foil even although rotated. The paper and foil, accordingly, are unwrapped from the respective rolls and wound on the mandrel at a speed depending upon the diameter of the paper and foil wrapped on the mandrel, and the R. P.

M. otshaft z.

chain is driven is accordingly directly proporto theshai't 45 and to the shaft 48 or the feed roll 32a. The sprocket 44 and the gears 46 and 41 are of the same size, and the-rolls 22 and 82a accordingly are positively driven at the same noid Ila is energized, causing the closure oi! the speed and in opposite directions. The toll i'eed of each pair of the feed roll shafts is a sprocket 52 meshing with the chain 31. The gears 49 and 50, and the sprocket 52 are of the same size as the paper feed roll sprocket 44 and gears 46 and 41, and the foil feed rolls are accordingly positively driven in opposite directions at the same speed as the paper feed rolls. Since the feed roll speed is fixed, the surface speed of the feed rolls may be greater or less than the suriace speed of the condenser coil being wrapped on the mandrel, depending upon the diameter or the condenser being wound. Preferably the feed roll speed is such that the paper and foil will be fed by the respective feed rolls at a speed substantially equal to the speed of the paper at the end of the winding.

The paper feed rolls 32 and 32a are rendered efiective to feed paper toward the mandrel by moving the roll 32 into engagement with the roll 32a. This is eflected by means of a solenoid 53 connected to one end of a bell crank lever 56 pivoted at 55. The other end of the bell crank lever 53 is connected to a slide t suitably guided in a manner not shown and journaled on the shaft of the roll 32. When. the solenoid 53 is energized, the bell crank lever 5A is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 55, causing the slide 555 to be moved toward the roll 32c and moving the roll 32 into engagement with the roll the. when the solenoid 53 is deenergized, the parts are returned by gravity to the position illustrated in which the roll 82 is separated from the roll 820i.

The condenser feed rolls and 35a. are rendered efiective to teed foil toward the mandrel by a solenoid connected at its lower end to a block be on which are pivoted the inner ends of links 59. The outer ends of the links 59 are pivctally connected to slides G 3 suitably guided in a manner not shown and respectively journaled on the shafts 56 of the rolls When the solenoid til is energized, the inner ends of the links 555 are lifted, causing the outer ends of the links to move toward the shafts of the rolls the. The slides ta connected to the outer ends of the links bit accordingly move the rolls 35 into engagement with the rolls 35a and render the rolls effective to feed foil toward the mandrel. When the sole noid it? is deenergized, the parts are returned by gravity to the position illustrated in which the rolls 36 are separated from the rolls 35a.

Below each of the foil feed rolls 35 and 35s are cutters each comprising a stationary cutter blade iii and a rotatable cutter blade 62. The foil is cut by rotation of the cutters 62 to a position cooperating with the stationary cutters 6|. This is effected by means of a solenoid 63 having a rack 64 meshing with a pinion 65 loose on shaft 650. Integral with the gear 65 is a hub 65b (Fig. 6) carrying pawls 65c cooperating with notches 65d in a hub sse pinned to the shaft 65a. The solenoid is biased to the position illustrated by a spring 66 connected to the free end of the rack 64. When the solenoid 63 is energized, the rack 64 is moved to the left, causing the gear 65 to be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6. The pawls 650 are then effective to rotate the shaft 65a in unison with the gear 65,

causing the cutters 62 to be rotated through gears 61, 68, and 69. The rotation of the cutters 62 is limited to a half revolution by the engagement of a stop 64a on the rack 64 with one on the stops 64b on a disc 64c integral with the gear 65. The gears 69 are fixed to the shaft 10 carrying the rotatable cutters 62. when the solenoid 83 is deenergized, the rack 64 is moved to the right by the spring 86, returning the rack 94 to the position illustrated. During the return movement of the rack 64, the shaft 65a remains stationary since the ratchet connection provided by the pawls 65c and the notches 65d is ineffective during the reverse rotation of the gear 66. The cutters 62 accordingly remain stationary.

Below the stationary guides 36 are paper outters comprising rotatable knives 1| fixed to shafts E2. The knives II are rotated in opposite directions by gears 13 fixed to the shafts I2, one of the shafts being rotated by a rack 14 meshing with a pinion 15 connected thereto by the ratchet drive shown in Fig. 6 and described above. One end of the rack is connected to a solenoid I8, and the other end of the rack is connected to a tension spring I1 biasing the rack to the position illustrated. When the solenoid 16 is energized, the rack '14 is moved to the right, causing the knives H to be rotated in opposite directions a half revolution to sever the paper. When the solenoid it is deenergized, the rack M is returned to the position illustrated by the tension spring 6?. The cutters remain stationary during the return movement of the rack due to the ratchet connection between the shaft 12 and the pinion lb.

The machine is controlled by mechanism driven through a friction wheel '18 rotatably carried in a hinged arm l9 and biased bygravity into engagement with one of the paper rolls 29. The rotation of the friction wheel 18 is accordingly 2. measure of the length of paper and foil fed to the mandrel. This is an important feature since the capacity of the finished condenser is very nearly proportional to the length of paper and foil wound on the mandrel. Since both the paper and the foil vary in thickness, there will be considerable variation in the number of turns of the mandrel required to wind the given length of foil and paper, and there will also be considerable variation in the diameter of the finished condenser. By using the length of foil and paper wound on the mandrel to control the machine, condensers of more uniform capacity are obtained.

The friction wheel it drives control chains 86 through a speed reducing drive comprising a worm 8i rotated by a sprocket 82 driven by a chain bit in turn driven by a sprocket 86 fixed to the friction roller shaft 85. The worm bi drives a gear 86 fixed to a shaft 81 to which are fixed control chain drive sprockets 88. The chain 83 provides a driving connection between the friction wheel 18 and the worm 8! which is independent of the angular position of the friction wheel supporting arm 19. The drive is accordingly independent of the diameter of the paper roll against which the friction wheel bears. The control chains are spaced apart along the shaft 81. Fixed between the chains is a plate 89 carrying adjustable members for controlling the operation of the solenoids eifecting the various operations of the machine. As shown in Fig. 5, each ofthe members is adjustably fixed to the plate 89 by bolts 89a extending through slots 89b. The length of the control chains 80 is adjustable by adding or subtracting links to make the machine eifective for winding different sizes of condensers.

The speed of the motor 3 is controlled by a member 90 on the plate 89. The member 80 cooperates with a spring contact arm 9Iand raises it into engagement with a bar 92 connected to the control circuit supply conductor 23. When the spring contact arm 9i engages the bar 92 a circuit is completed to the solenoid I8 from conductor 23 through the bar 92, contact 9i, and conductor 93 to the solenoid I8, and from the solenoid I8 I noid through conductor 91 to conductor 22.-

When the solenoid 63 is energized, the rack 94 is moved to the left, rotating the cutters 62 through the gears 65, 61, 68, and 69. When the member 94 moves from under the spring contact 95, the circuit to the solenoid is opened and the spring 66 returns the rack to the position illustrated, the cutters remaining stationary due to the ratchet drive shown in Fig. 6.

The foil feed rolls 35 and 35a are controlled by a member 98 which cooperates with a spring contact 99 to close a circuit through the foil feed roll solenoid 51. ductor 23 through the bar 92, contact 99, conductor I99 to the solenoid 51, and from the solenoid 51 through conductors I9I and 91 to conductor 22. When the solenoid 51 is energized, the inner ends of the links 59 are raised, thereby moving the rolls 35 against the rolls 35a and causing the foil to be fed downward toward the mandrel. The rolls35 and 35a, as described above, are driven continuously but are effective to feed the foil only when in engagement. When the member 98 moves past the spring contact 99, the circuit to the solenoid 51- is opened and. the

feed rolls 35 moved by gravity away from the rolls- 35a, stopping the feed of foil.

The paper-cutting knives H are controlled by a member I92 which cooperates with a spring contact I93 to close a circuit through the paper cut-off solenoid 19. This circuit extends from conductor 23 through the bar 92, spring contact arm I93, and conductor I94 to'the solenoid, and from the solenoid through conductor I95 to conductor 22. When the solenoid 15 is energized, it moves the rack 18 to the right, rotating the cutter knives 1I through gears 13 and 15. When the member I92 moves from under the spring contact arm I93, the circuit to the solenoid 16 is opened and the rack 14 is returned by the tension spring 11 to the position illustrated. 1

The paper feed rolls 32 and 32a are controlled by a member I96 which cooperates with a spring contact I91 to close a circuit through the paper feed solenoid 53. This circuit extends from the conductor 23 through bar 92, spring contact arm I91, and conductor I98 to the solenoid, and from the solenoid through conductors I99 and I95 to conductor 22. When the solenoid 53 is energized, the bell crank 54 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, moving the roll 32 into engagement with the roll 32a. and rendering the rolls effective to feed paper toward the mandrel. when the member I95 moves from under This circuit extends from con- I the spring contact I91, the circuit to the solenoid '53 is opened and the feed roll 32 is moved by gravity away from the feed roll 32a, stopping the feed of paper.

The machine is stopped by a member I I9 which cooperates with a spring contact arm III and controls a circuit to the solenoid 28. This circuit extends from conductor 23 through bar 92, contact II I, and conductor II2 to'the solenoid, and from the-solenoid through conductor 24 to the conductor 22. When the solenoid is energized, the contacts 21 are opened, opening the holding circuit to the solenoid Na and deenergizing the solenoid No. This causes the opening of the contacts II, thereby opening the motor circuit as described above.

After being stopped through the action of member II9, the motor may be started again by momentarily closing the switch 2i as described above. The switch 2I must be held closed until the member I I9 has. moved away from thespring'.

contact III, after which the switch may be opened.

At the start of the condenser winding operation, the lower ends of the paper and foil project a short distance below the mandrel, with the ends of the paper projecting a sufflcient distance beyond the ends of the foil to provide the necessary insulation. The control member H9 is in engagement with the spring contact III, completing a circuit through the solenoid 28, and the switch 2I is open. All of the other control members carried by the plate 89 are clear of the respective cooperating spring contacts.

Before starting the operation of the machine, the operator first secures the free ends of the foil and paper between the parts of the split mandrel. The machine is now started byman- 'ually closing the switch 2I to energize the motor starting solenoid Ila. This closes the motor circuit through contacts II and causes the mandrel to be rotated by means of the belt 4 and the pulleys 5 and 6, and also causes the feed rolls 92, 32a, and 35 and 35a to be rotated by the chain 31 and the associated gearing. The feed rolls are separated and accordingly are ineffective. The rotation of the mandrel winds the paper and foil on the mandrel and drives the control chains 89 through the friction wheel 18, driving on one of the paper rolls 29. The switch 2I is held'closed until the chains 89 have moved sufliciently to move the member II9 away from the spring contact I I I, opening the circuit to the solenoid 29. The switch 2I may then be opened, the circuit to the motor control solenoid Ila being now maintained by the holding circuit established by the closure of contacts 29, After nearly all of the desired length of foil and paper is wound on the mandrel, the member 99 on the plate 89 engages the spring contact 9I. and closes the circuit to the solenoid I8, energizing the solenoid .and causing the opening of the contacts I1 to remove the short-circuit around the resistance I4. This inserts the resistance I4 in series with the motor and reduces the motor speed, effecting a corresponding reduction in the mandrel speed. The slowing of the mandrel speed is desirableto reduce the rate of travel of the foil and paper so that the subsequent cutting and feeding operations may be performed without excessive strain. The members on the plate 89 are arranged so that the motor has a suflicient interval of time in which to reach its slow speed before any of the subsequent operations is started. At the end of this interval, 1. e. after the motor has reached.

its slow speed, the member 94 engages the spring arm and completes a circuit to the foil cut-off solenoid 63. The energization of this solenoid causes the rack 64 to be moved to the left, thereby rotating the cutters 62 through the gears 85, 61, 63 and 68. When the member 04 moves from under the spring contact 85, the circuit to the solenoid 03 is opened and the rack is returned by the spring 86 to the position illustrated. At this time the feed of foil from the rolls 33 stops and the end of the foil connected to the mandrel continues to be wrapped on the mandrel together with the paper. After a suitable interval, during which time the end of the foil connected to the mandrel moves away from the end of the -f011 connected to the rolls, the member 98 engages the spring contactJQ and closes a circuit to the foil feeding solenoid 51. The energization of this solenoid moves the rolls 35 into engagement with the rolls 35a and sta'rtsthe feeding of the foil from the rolls toward themandrel. The rate of feed of foil from the rolls is substantially equal to the rate at which the paper and foil are being wrapped on the mandrel. Due to the time delay between the foil cutting and the starting of the foil feeding, a gap is provided between the adjacent ends of the foil. When the approximate center of the gap between the severed ends of the foils is opposite the-paper cutting knives I I, the member I02 engages the spring contact I03 and energizes the paper cutting solenoid 18. This causes the rack 14 to be moved to the right, rotating the knives 1i through the gears 1.3 and I5. The member I02 remains in engagement with the spring contact I03 long enough for the cutting operation to take place after which it moves clear of the spring contact I03, deenergizing the solenoid IS. The rack 14 is then returned by the spring 1'! to the position means for supplying alternate strips of foil and dielectric, a mandrel, means for rotating the mandrel to wind the strips thereon, dielectric cutting means arranged between the mandrel and the dielectric supply, foil cutting means arranged between the dielectric cutting means and the foil supply, dielectric feeding means arranged between the dielectric cutting means and supply, foil feeding means arranged between the foilcutting means and supply, a friction wheel adapted to be driven from one of said strips, a control member driven by said wheel, abutments on said member, and means controlled by said abutments for controlling the feeding and cutting means.

3. In a machine for winding coil condensers, means for supplying alternate strips of foil and dielectric, a mandrel, means for rotating the mandrel to wind the strips thereon, dielectric cutting means arranged between the mandrel and the dielectric supply, foil cutting means arranged between the dielectric cutting means and foil supply, dielectric feeding means arranged between the dielectric cutting means and supply, foil feedillustrated. About the same time as the operation of the paper cutters II, the member I06 engages the spring contact I01 and closes the circuit through the paper feeding solenoid 53. The energization of this solenoid causes the roll 32 to be moved into engagement with the roll 32a, thereby feeding the paper downward toward the mandrel at the same rate as the foil. Since the ,paper was severed at the approximat center of the gap between the adjacent ends of the foil, both ends of the paper overlap the respective ends of the foil to provide the necessary insulation. The foil and paper feeding continue until the lower ends are a short distance below the mandrel, at which time the member H0 engages the spring contact III and. closes the circuit to the solenoid 28.- The operation of the solenoid 20 opens the contacts 21 in the holding circuit of the motor control solenoid Ila, deenergizing the solenoid Ila and thereby stopping the motor by opening the contacts I I.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a machine for winding coil condensers, means for supplying alternate strips of foil and dielectric, a mandrel, means for rotating the mandrel to wind the strips'thereon, dielectric cutting means arranged between the mandrel and the dielectric supply, foil cutting means arranged between the dielectric cutting means and the foil supply, dielectric feeding means arranged between the dielectric cutting means and supply,

'foil feeding means arranged between the foil cutting means and supply, a friction wheel adapted to be driven from one of said strips, and control means driven by said wheel for controlling the operation of said cutting, and feeding means.

2. In a machine for winding coil condensers,

ing means arranged between the foil cutting means and-supply, a friction wheel adapted to be driven from one of said strips, a chain driven by said'wheel, abutments carried by said chain, and means controlled by said abutments for controlling the feeding and cutting means.

4. In a machine for winding coil condensers, means for supplying alternate strips of foil and dielectric, a mandrel, means for rotating the mandrel to wind the strips thereon, dielectric cutting means arranged between the mandrel and the dielectric supply, foil cutting means arranged between the dielectric cutting means and the foil supply, normally separated foil feeding rolls arranged between the foil cutting means and supply, and control means operated in accordance with the amount of material fed to the mandrel for controlling said foil cutting means and for moving said foil feeding rolls into engagement, said control means being arranged so that the foil after cutting is fed from the supply after being momentarily at rest so as to provide a gap between the severed ends of the foil between which the dielectric may be cut.

.5. In a machine for winding coil condensers, means for supp ying alternate strips of foil and dielectric, a mandrel, means for rotating the mandrel to wind the strips thereon, solenoid operated dielectric cutting means arranged between the mandrel and the dielectric supply, solenoid operated foil cutting means arranged between the dielectric cutting means and the foil supply, normally separated foil feeding rolls arranged between the foil cutting means and supply, normally separated dielectric feeding rolls arranged between the dielectric and foil cutting means, means for driving said feeding rolls, solenoid operated means for effecting movement of said rolls into engagement, a friction wheel adapted to be driven by one of said strips, a control member driven by said wheel, and means on said control member for controllingsaid solenoid operated cutting and feeding means, said means being arranged to cause the cutting of the foil, the movement of the foil feeding rolls into engagement to feed the foil from the foil supply after being momentarily at rest so as to provide a gap between the severed ends of the foil, the cutting of the dielectric in said gap, and the movement of the dielectric feeding rolls into engagement ot feed dielectric from the dielectric supply.

ALEXANDER menus. I 

